Domestic violence tops crimes against women, says report

Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan register around 10% each of all rapes in the country

Women continued to face most risks from their families.

Among all registered cases of serious crimes against women, the largest share was under "cruelty by husband and relatives". While 36 per cent of all cases were registered under this category, the next largest share was "assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty" (24 per cent), says a new report for the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, titled 'Women and Men in India - 2015'.

In 2014, five per cent of all cognizable crimes were directed at women. The report said there was a gradual increase in crime figures, with major increases in rape, kidnapping and abduction and assault on women with an intent to outrage their modesty.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 69 per cent of all such cases were disposed off by the police in 2014. The highest number of cases disposed (76 per cent) were those dealing with assault on women with an intent to outrage their modesty and those related to domestic violence. Cases of kidnapping and abduction were least disposed off, with almost 58 per cent pending.

The data on rapes suggest younger women continued to bear the brunt. In 2014, almost 44 per cent of all victims were in the age group of 18-30 years, whereas one in every 100 victims was under six years of age. For the same year, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan earned the dubious distinction of registering around 10 per cent each of all rapes in the country.

The rate of incidence of crimes against women was reported at 11 per cent in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh - among the highest. Among the major states, West Bengal and Assam saw approximately a fifth of reported crimes against women.

The suicide rate among women was approximately half that of men and there has not been much variation in it over the past decade. The prevalence of suicides was approximately 75 per cent for those below secondary level of education. Family problems were the major cause of suicides among both genders - 23 per cent for women and 21 per cent for men. This was followed by illness, at 18 per cent, for both genders. The study said among women who committed suicide, approximately 47 per cent were housewives, 64 per cent were married and 76 per cent were matriculates or below. Among men who ended their lives, 67 per cent were married and 73 per cent were matriculates or below.